Student Perspective: Great Barrier Reef will be more mindblowing than an eight-lane highway

Greetings! My name is George Hayward, and I just finished my junior year at Penn State. Despite the plethora of good times in Happy Valley, I’m glad to be done for the year, primarily because of a highly anticipated study abroad trip this summer.

Today I’m headed to North Queensland for three and a half weeks of fun, adventure, limited Internet and unlimited nature. If all goes as planned, I’ll be scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef, boxing with kangaroos in the Outback (not literally), and engaging in serious introspection elicited by the striking beauty, serenity and wonder of the rainforests. Can you tell I’m excited?

George and his mom enjoying a summer’s evening on the beach while visiting family in New York.

The farthest I’ve ever been from home in Pennsylvania is California, where the sight of an eight-lane highway absolutely blew my mind. I was as fascinated as a five-year-old child just after catching his or her first lighting bug. Yeah, it was a big deal. I can only imagine what the site of the Great Barrier Reef will do to me!

Stemming from my enthusiasm for this upcoming adventure, I intend to keep a vivid and thorough journal/blog of all the sights, sounds and inevitable escapades. I write every day, and this trip will be no exception, even though it will mean turning my eyes from the elegant Australian landscape. With a brand new (DSLR!) camera around my neck, a pen in my pocket and an eco-friendly journal in my hand, I’m ready to go!

For all of the readers who will one day be taking the same (or a similar) trip, rest assured that these notes will be informative enough to help you feel comfortable, but exciting enough to help you feel like part of the journey. I’m looking forward to an experience of a lifetime. Thanks for coming aboard (no pun intended)!